You can't take your eyes off the imposing marble statue on the first floor landing of the Presidency College. I stand in awe thinking how well it fits in with the glory of this landmark institution. This life statue of the founder-Principal Prof. Eyre Burton Powell has had a thorough cleaning by the students of the Geology Department of the college, its shine reflecting the pride the students had in doing the job. “This is our way of giving back to the college,” they said, as we gathered in the museum of their department. “We learnt about the marble, its preservation, and the history behind the statue. It wasn't just cleaning; it was a lesson in Geology.”
Anyone who has studied in the Geology Department of Presidency can be proud: for it is the first in the country. There is no clear record of when, (a board says 1886), but we do know Geology was a part of the Biology division when P.F. Fyson was professor. Sometime during his tenure (1903-1910), the department got divided into Botany/Zoology/Geology and in 1910, Dr. Murrey was appointed Professor of Geology. Since then, it has been stewarded by some of the greatest minds from GSI, BARC, ONGC and experts in Mining Sciences. In 1911, it announced a BA Honours course, in 1931, a BSc one. MSc courses followed and by 1953, it had a full-fledged research department. PhD degrees and M.Phil didn't take long to be introduced.
I take a good look at the statue. According to the inscription at the back, it was made by John Adams-Acton in 1838 in London. The plaque in front introduces Powell, MA/CSI as the “first principal of the Presidency College and afterwards Director of Public Instruction.” The statue “[was] erected by many Rajahs, Zamindars, former pupils and friends. To mark their respect for his character and their grateful appreciation of his services in the cause of higher education for more than 30 years.” It has a square wooden railing and includes an easily-missed floor feature. Each small tile on the floor space around the statue boasts a different pattern — 200-plus in all. Look above to catch sight of the decorated dome erected in 1940 with “subscriptions from past and present students and by a generous donation from the government of Madras, as a memorial for the first centenary of the foundation of the college.” Standing guard are two bust-size statues, male and female, erected on round marble pillars at the entrance of Powell’s Statue. “All the three marble statues got discoloured due to pollution and probably the salt-breeze from the sea,” said Dr. Sivakumar, HOD, Geology Department. “They were scientifically washed with mild chemicals and cleaned with soap solution under the supervision of conservators from the Department of Museums.”
Why now? Because of the Quartoseptcentennial (175th) Year Celebrations of the college, he said. Dr.T.Pramanandaperumal, the 48th Principal of Presidency College, had requested the Department of Museums to help with the conservation of the statues and Dr. R. Kannan, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism/Culture/Religious Endowments) gave permission for the Conservation Laboratory to supervise the work.
I chat with former principal Mohamed Ibrahim about the statue. “Powell's great grandson got emotional when he saw it during his visit,” he said. “Where else can I see anything like this, he remarked. We took him to see the Powell Hall and when he went back, he sent a cheque for Rs. 49,000 to improve facilities in the college.”
If you are looking at the statue you can't help notice the swivel door behind. It is huge, made of polished wood, has lovely carvings at the bottom, and after all these years, works perfectly! Appropriately, it forms the entrance to the Geology Department.
I can't leave without a visit to the famed Geology museum, whose solid wooden stairs, dusty pathways and the remarkable “finds” give you the feel of the kind of enthralling work geology is. A group of former professors meet me there to offer a guided tour. They take me through giant molluscs, plant fossils, rare and ancient formations in rock, rock varieties discovered in Tamil Nadu – how come we don't know more about them? “The museum will get a makeover soon,” they tell me, as HOD Sivakumar adds, “Public participation through contributions are welcome. If people come forward to pitch in, they can be proud participants in the restoration while getting an opportunity to educate themselves about our past. The rocks go back to a time before there was even a glimpse of human birth.”
